That's all!

Realistic targets?

Jonty Colman asks: Who do you believe Derby could realistically sign in the window to help bolster their options at centre-back?

SN: Not an easy one to answer, Jonty, without knowing who is available and whether or not Derby can afford to bring them in. This is the job of recruitment departments, and is why recruitment departments have to be on the ball.

15:02

Anya and Butterfield latest?

Stephen Williams asks: What’s the latest on Anya and Butterfield leaving the club? Could really do with them off the books.

SN: Things appear to have gone quiet since we reported Birmingham City’s interest in Ikechi Anya and Hull City’s interest in Jacob Butterfield.

14:58

Sibley for the first team?

Darren ‘Backo’ Baxter asks: How far off is Louie Sibley from being in the first team. He’s a great talent and I think he’s close myself.

SN: Louie Sibley played in a first-team friendly against Coventry City at Nuneaton in the summer. He was 16 at the time and played the second half on the left of a three-man midfield with Mason Mount and Joe Ledley. I was impressed, and a lot of people are saying a lot of good things about him. I’d let him continue to develop within the under-23s this season, Darren, and then let him have a pre-season with the first team.

14:54

Away strategy?

John Shepherd asks: What’s your opinion on going away from home? We are clinical but open and vulnerable. I say consider 5-3-2. I think we need to be more compact.

SN: Might struggle to field 5 at the back at the moment, John, with the injuries to defenders! Derby are not alone in looking open and vulnerable at times. Other sides in the top six and challenging for the top six, other than Middlesbrough, concede goals. Norwich City and West Bromwich Albion, who are above Derby, have conceded 34. The Rams have conceded 32 while Aston Villa, one of the fancied teams for promotion this season, have shipped 40.

14:51

Contract offers?

Phil Stone asks: Would you offer any of the players out of contract at the end of the season a new one?

SN: The only one I would consider for a new deal, possibly a one-year extension, is Craig Bryson. He is not the player he was when scoring 16 goals from midfield in 2013-14, and it is important to recognise and understand that, but I still think he has something to offer. Frank Lampard has been full of praise for Bryson at times this season and it is important to keep some experience in and around what is a much younger team than last season.

Bryson turned 32 in November. Among the others out of contract are David Nugent, who is 34 in May, Joe Ledley (32 this month), Bradley Johnson (32 in April), Alex Pearce (who turned 30 in November), Marcus Olsson (31 in May) and Jacob Butterfield (29 this summer).

Butterfield has not featured this season, so he is not in the first-team plans. Pearce has been allowed out on loan to Millwall, Ledley has played only four times and has not been helped by injury, and Olsson is still working his way back from a knee injury he suffered at the back end of last season. Nugent is still effective but more in cameo roles than starts of late, as he showed against Southampton. Johnson has not been in the squad since completing a ban for his part in an unsavoury tussle with Stoke City’s Joe Allen.

14:45

Concerned?

Paul Boddy asks: We need to buy players to replace loan players like Tomori otherwise our squad will look thin next season. Are you concerned the amount of current first-team players that will be out of contract end of season?

SN: Not at all, Paul. Too many long-term contracts have been handed out over the years and sometimes it is good to reach a stage where the squad can be given a new look. That doesn’t necessarily help continuity, but sometimes it is necessary. Also, a number of the players out of contract are 30-plus.

14:40

Top six?

John Carby asks: Given Derby have no money to spend, do you think the midfield that played Saturday are top six?

SN: The midfield three that played on Saturday is not the midfield three that has been playing regularly because there was no Mason Mount or Harry Wilson. George Evans is feeling his way back after injuries and so it is difficult, and unfair, to judge him yet. Max Bird is 18, and that was only his second senior start while Craig Bryson has been in and out of the side of late. It is all about the balance of the team, John, rather than one department. If the back four is right, then this helps the midfield, which in turn helps the forward play.

14:36

Balance in defence

Scott Gretton asks: Should Lampard stick with two ‘libero’ centre backs (Keogh and Tomori) or should we balance off one of the ball-playing centre halves with a ‘stopper’? Surely doing that would not curb our attacking instincts? I understand keeping possession is our style but is it necessary to play with two ‘liberos’ in the Championship?

SN: Frank Lampard said when he came in that he wanted his players to be comfortable on the ball, it is the way he wants his team to play. I think there are very few ‘stoppers’ in the game now because the type of strikers defenders come up against have changed. How many of the old type of centre forwards or target men are there nowadays? Not many. It is more about movement and pace. This means fewer teams play long from the back, which in turn means that teams have to play from the back, and this is why the centre backs have to be comfortable in possession.

14:31

CB pairing?

Gary Spencer asks: This season, Keogh and Tomori have played centre back most times. If Derby got in a new centre back in this window, who would you play him with?

SN: I think it is more about have more than two options at centre back, Gary, rather than who any new arrival should play with. That would depend on form and opposition. Having more than just Keogh and Tomori would also allow manager Frank Lampard to give a centre back a breather now and then.

It is interesting you should ask the question because this is what Lampard said last week when asked about his best 11: “I think ‘best 11’ is a dated concept because there are too many games to have that. Whether it is us, or Manchester City and Liverpool, you have to change at different points.”

14:27

Forest v Derby

Kelly Roberts asks: Do you think it’s right that Sky TV move our game v Forest to a Monday night, alienating shift workers?

SN: Absolutely not, Kelly, but moving of fixtures has been a long-standing irritant. We can complain all we want, and we do long and hard, but it appears to make little difference. The money television ploughs into the game gives them a big say, sadly.

14:23

Cards close to his chest?

Gareth Griffiths asks: Do think Lampard is just keeping his cards close to his chest when he says we have nobody else lined up despite letting Pearce go out on loan? Seems like a big risk to me if that’s the case.

SN: It was me who asked him the question, and his answer seemed pretty clear to me. As he said, there is nothing imminent but I would also expect him to keep his cards close to his chest, as most managers do until a signing is in the bag.

14:19

Stick with 4-4-2?

Chuck Burton asks: Do you think Lampard ought to stick with 4-4-2 given the second half display against Southampton?

SN: I think the switch against Southampton was a case of needs must because Derby found themselves 2-0 down and seemingly on their way out of the FA Cup.

Yes, playing two up gave Southampton more problems but I think it has to be a case of judging each game on its merits when it comes to team shape and approach. There are strengths and weaknesses with all formations.

Where's Johnson?

SN: As I answered in an earlier question, Jamie, I asked about Bradley Johnson after the game at Norwich and was told that the player is fit and is training.

14:12

Money money money...

Mark Lister asks: Has Frank been told he has no money to spend?

SN: I don’t know, Mark, but managers are rarely told how much they have to spend or not. or given a set amount to spend. It is more about trying to balance ins and outs, and moving the squad around.

14:01

A disgrace?

John Carby asks: Do you think it is a disgrace that a club of Derby’s size have now no recognised cover at centre half?

SN: It cannot be labelled a “disgrace”, John, because you cannot legislate for the serious injuries suffered by Curtis Davies and Craig Forsyth, who would have been an option to cover at centre back. Those are unlucky blows. Andre Wisdom can cover at centre back and I still believe Derby will add a centre back.

13:52

Any signings this month?

Dave Murphy asks: Do you think Derby will sign a couple of new faces in this window?

SN: Yes, I do. It was suggested in the weeks before the transfer window opened that any new arrivals would likely be loan signings. I will be surprised if that doesn’t happen, and it is more likely to happen if Derby can move players out this month, on loan or permanently.

13:47

Contract talks?

Matt Wallis asks: Any talks planned for the players whose contracts run out in the summer or are we likely to run them down?

SN: Not as far as I am aware. Craig Bryson confirmed this recently when he was asked about his contract situation. Having said that, contract talks are not usually made public.

13:40

Season defining?

Chris Hudson asks: Do you agree with me that January transfer windows have defined Derby’s seasons of late. Last season defined by Russell leaving giving us less options to adapt in games on the wing. Palmer’s misuse of sorts. Bent loan example of a decent acquisition. How important is this?

SN: The January transfer window can be a tricky window in which to do business. Mistakes, and costly ones can be made as clubs look to give their team or squad a boost for the second half of the season.

Darren Bent on loan (2015), Tom Ince on loan (2015) and David Nugent (2017) proved to be ‘hits’ as January signings for Derby but Raul Albentosa (2015), Abdoul Camara (2016) and Nick Blackman (2016) did not work out.

This shows there are no guarantees, and so it is an important time and test for clubs’ recruitment departments.

Derby sat second in the Championship going into the January transfer window a year ago and they did not need too many additions. They brought in striker Cameron Jerome and attacking midfielder Kasey Palmer, but they did not improve the team.

Yes, Jerome scored some big goals late in the season to help fire Derby into the play offs but they went in on the back of a sixth-placed finish and so faced in-form Fulham.

13:36

Where to strengthen?

Paul Mottershead asks: What position do you think needs strengthening in the January transfer window?

SN: In an ideal world, I would say centre back, striker and full back positions. Centre back, clearly, because Derby are short of recognised cover/competition in that position following Alex Pearce’s departure to Millwall on loan.

Derby have two players in double figures for goals in Jack Marriott and Harry Wilson, but adding another striker would be a boost going into the second half of the season.

Derby, for me, look vulnerable in the full-back positions.

13:31

Back to the Q&A...

Steve Ackling asks: Would you stick with Wisdom at left back at Leeds after his MOM performance against Middlesbrough?

SN: Yes, I would. I don’t think Andre Wisdom is comfortable in the position but he did produce a strong performance against Middlesbrough. Max Lowe is back from his loan spell but I thought he looked a bit edgy and shaky against Southampton. It was his first game back, and that has to be factored in, but looking back he will probably think he could have done better. It is always a physical challenge facing Leeds United at Elland Road, and I think that gives Wisdom the edge.

13:31

Other Rams news - Thorne joins Luton on loan

13:24

Is Lampard bluffing?

Darren Weightman asks: Do you think Frank is bluffing about lack of money/incomings?

SN: No, I don’t think he is ‘bluffing’, Darren. I have watched him when he answers questions about possible incomings and I do not sense a bluff. It appears he is simply explaining the situation and outlining the club’s position. I always feel explanation leads to understanding. I think Derby will add to the squad, but they also have to move players out.

13:16

Time to step up?

Mike asks: Can you see any of the centre halves from the U23s or U18s stepping up into the first team?

SN: That would be a big ask for them, Mike. It is good to see youngsters coming through but it is important that the balance in the first team is right and that young players are not put in too soon. Yes, Derby are short of options at centre back currently but I would be surprised if they did not sign a central defender before the transfer window closes, probably on loan. I would also look for cover from within the squad - Andre Wisdom, for example - before turning to the U23s or U18s.

13:10

FFP threat to Derby?

Ian Redfern asks: Releasing Pearce without having a replacement lined-up and leaving just two players for the key centre-back positions makes no sense unless financial constraints are severe. Given this and Lampard’s comments about ‘working with what we’ve got’, what’s your take on the FFP threat to Derby?

SN: We will only know where Derby stand with FFP when the annual accounts appear. All clubs have to be careful when it comes to FFP because of the potential punishments and I am a firm believer that clubs should do everything they can to live within their means.

What we heard from chairman Mel Morris before the end of last season and what we have heard from manager Frank Lampard in recent weeks points to finances being tight.

We have to remember that a big part of bringing in nine new signings in the summer was down to top scorer Matej Vydra being sold. It appeared to be very much a balancing act.

13:04

Johnson?

Luke Conway asks: Is it looking likely Bradley Johnson will be moved out?

SN: The last time I asked about Bradley Johnson I was told that he is fit and training. He has been available for the last three matches having completed his lengthy suspension, but he has not been named in the squad. That suggests he is out of the first-team picture and so uncertainty surrounds his future at the club given that his contract is up in the summer.

13:00

First question please!

Guy Pearson asks: Why isn’t Anya considered as an option for right back when Bogle has so obviously struggled defensively for the last two months, at least?

SN: At 18, and this being his first season in the first team, Jayden Bogle has done really well but he has found it more difficult especially defensively in recent weeks/months. That is not a surprise because it happens to young players but the defensive part of his game needs work.

Ikechi Anya is a versatile player who can play on the right or the left but clearly he is not in first-team plans. Why? That is more a question for the manager/club. There have been rumours that playing Anya would trigger another payment to Watford as part of the deal that brought him to Derby but there has been no confirmation on whether that is the case or not.

If a player is considered good enough to play and to make a contribution would that not happen regardless of possible instalments?

What I will say is that I was surprised when Derby signed Anya, and especially on a four-year deal. As we stand, that is looking a costly mistake.

Greetings!

Welcome to our LIVE Derby Q&A!

This is the first Q&A during the January transfer window, and there are sure to be plenty of questions about potential incomings and outgoings.

Steve Nicholson will be on hand to answer your Rams questions, so stay tuned!